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Finals Day snub for KP

Hampshire have confirmed they will not recall Kevin Pietersen to their squad for Twenty20 Finals Day.

By Joe Drabble

Last Updated: 13/08/10 3:25pm

Hampshire have confirmed they will not recall Kevin Pietersen to their squad for Saturday's Twenty20 Finals Day showpiece at the Rose Bowl.

The England batsman, who is leaving the county at the end of the domestic season, has been made available to play for the Royals this weekend by the England and Wales Cricket Board, along with Nottinghamshire duo Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad and Essex opener Alastair Cook.

Pietersen, 30, has played just seven first-class matches in almost six seasons for Hampshire and announced midway through this campaign that he is to leave the club in order to spend more time with his family.

Faced with the dilemma of picking or overlooking the world class batsman, Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove insisted the club will stick with the players who got the Royals to Finals Day.

Proud

He told the club's official website: "We are very pleased to be involved in Finals Day, particularly at The Rose Bowl. The players who have got the Royals to this point have made their county and everyone associated with the club very proud. We would, therefore, like to stand by them.

"We wish Kevin and England all the very best for the future and all their forthcoming internationals. We look forward to welcoming them back to the Rose Bowl for the England v Pakistan NatWest one-day international on September 22."

Pietersen reacted to the decision magnanimously - announcing on his 'Twitter' feed that he will still be avidly watching his team-mates on Saturday.

"I fully understand Hampshire's position in not selecting me for finals day," he wrote.